Judges
Courtesy of Marijn Fidder
GRANT AWARD
$30,000 + SOLO EXHIBITION
TWO $5,000
EMERGING PRIZES FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS UNDER 30
TIMELINE
Submission: 19th December 2025
Closing: 16th April 2026
Winners announced:
July 2026 - CORTONA ON THE MOVE
Exhibition in Cortona on the move festival :
July 2027
Supported by the Visual Storytellers Fund
ABOUT THE CORTONA ON THE MOVE | BARTUR GRANT (COTM | BarTur Grant)​
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The COTM | BARTUR GRANT WAS CREATED to support photographers who are working on a story that matters deeply to them-one they feel compelled to tell. These stories often take months or years to unfold, requiring some patience, and long-term commitment.
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Yet meaningful documentary work is rarely easy to fund. Too often, important projects are left unfinished simply because photographers lack the financial support to continue.
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The COTM | BARTUR GRANT exists to change that.
We support photographers working on long-term documentary “in progress projects ”giving them the resources they need to complete stories that deserve to be seen and remembered and help to make a change.​​​​​​​
Courtesy of Finbarr O’Reily
| WHAT THE WINNER RECEIVES
The winner is awarded $30,000, plus a fully funded trip to Italy for the Cortona On The Move festival. With the opportunity to meet many curators, picture editors and other leaders of the industry. They will also have a Solo exhibition of the wining work in the 2027 edition of the festival.
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The winner will be part of Cortona On The Move / BarTur Grant's extensive international social media campaign.
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The emerging photographer winners receive $5000 each and participate in an online exhibition and will be part of Cortona On The Move / BarTur Grant social media campaign.
| WHAT DOES IT COST
Professional photographers ($30,000 Grant) $25
Emerging Photographers (under 30 years old) FREE
Applicants must submit:​
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A cohesive body of photographic work
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An artist statement and project description
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A short bio
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All materials in English
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Work that is “in progress project” original and created by the applicant and was never published before​
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Proof of professional standing , Press Card latest copy of publish work etc for detail see FAQ section​
| JUDGING CRITERIA
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Submissions will be evaluated on:​
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Creativity and originality
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Relevance to competition themes
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Technical and aesthetic quality
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Feasibility of completing the project
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Potential for impact and audience engagement.
| WHO CAN SUBMIT
The main grant is open to professional photographers worldwide, one $30,000. grant. Emerging Photographers (under 30 year old ) 2 X $ 5000 grants.
| WHO HOSTS THE CONTEST
The grant is jointly hosted by the BarTur Photo Award and Cortona On The Move, two organizations dedicated to fostering impactful, forward-thinking photographic work.
ABOUT THE CORTONA ON THE MOVE / BARTUR GRANT
This grant unites the BarTur Photo Award’s commitment to socially engaged photography with Cortona On The Move’s dedication to innovative visual storytelling. Together, they aim to elevate photographers whose work challenges, informs, and inspires.
